Ohio Admin. Code 3701-56-02 - Eligibility and application process

(A) An applicant who will not have an outstanding obligation for dental service to the federal government, a state, or other entity at the time of participation in the dentist loan repayment program and meets one of the following requirements may apply for participation in the dentist loan repayment program:

(1) A dental student enrolled in the final year of dental school; or

(2) A dental resident in the final year of residency training in general, or pediatric, or public health dentistry; or

(3) A person who is licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code to practice dentistry in the state of Ohio.

(B) The application shall be submitted by a date and on a form prescribed by the department. The form shall require an applicant to set forth the following information:

(1) Name;

(2) Current and permanent mailing address;

(3) Telephone number;

(4) The dental college the applicant is attending or has attended, dates attended and verification of attendance;

(5) If the applicant is currently a dental resident, or has previously completed a dental residency program, the facility or institution where the residency was completed or is being performed, and if completed, the date of completion;

(6) A summary and verification of the educational expenses for which reimbursement is sought under the dentist loan repayment program;

(7) Verification of United States citizenship or legal alien status;

(8) If the applicant is a dentist, verification of license to practice dentistry under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code and proof of good standing; and

(9) Any other information requested by the department.

(C) The director of health shall grant an application for placement in a dental health resource shortage area and participation in the dentist loan repayment program if both all of the following apply:

(1) Funds are available in the dentist loan repayment fund;

(1)(2) The general assembly has appropriated adequate funds for the dentist loan repayment program; and

(2)(3) The director finds that the applicant is eligible for placement and participation and that, in accordance with the priorities established under rule 3701-56-04 of the Administrative Code, the applicant is needed in a dental health resource shortage area.

(D) Upon granting an application, the director shall notify and enter into discussions with the applicant. The object of the discussions is the placement of the applicant in a dental health resource shortage area in which, according to the priorities established under rule 3701-56-04 of the Administrative Code, the applicant is most needed. The department may also refer an applicant to the Ohio dental association, the Ohio association of community health centers, or the charitable healthcare network for assistance in being recruited to a site within a dental health resource shortage area at which the applicant will agree to be placed.

(E) In the event that it is necessary to establish priorities among applicants, the director shall consider the following factors:

(1) The applicant's background and career goals;

(2) The extent to which the applicant's background is similar to the population in the dental health resource shortage area;

(3) The length of time the applicant is willing to provide dental services in a dental health resource shortage area;

(4) The applicant's expressed interest in working and staying in an underserved area and whose family members are interested in the lifestyle associated with areas of underservice;

(5) The extent to which the applicant has sought or undertaken culturally or economically diverse experiences;

(6) The amount of the loan balance for which the applicant is requesting repayment assistance;

(7) The type of dental practice site as defined in paragraph (A) of rule 3701-56-01 of the Administrative Code;

(8) The location of the dental practice site as defined under paragraph (A) of rule 3701-56-04 of the Administrative Code;

(9) The percentage of individuals served by the dental practice site who participate in the medicaid program established under Chapter 5163. of the Revised Code, participate in the medicare program established by 42 U.S.C. section 1395w-23 (2006), participate in other public health care assistance programs, and the percentage of the individuals who pay sliding fee payments or reduced fees based on the individual's family income.

(10) To ensure an equitable distribution of dentists desiring to practice in a dental health resource shortage area, preference will be given to applicants desiring to practice in a dental health resource shortage area which does not have a dentist placed in the area either through the Ohio dentist loan repayment program or through the federal national health service corps scholarship and loan repayment programs.

(F) Each factor listed in paragraph (E) of this rule shall be used by the department to develop scoring criteria which shall be made available to loan repayment applicants as part of the dentist loan repayment program application. Each applicant will be evaluated against the criteria and a score will be given for the applicant's responses to each criterion.

Each applicant will be given a total score. In addition, department staff may interview applicants to gather responses not easily evaluated from the applicant's written application. The applicants with the highest scores will be recommended for funding provided that funds are authorized and available. The dentist loan repayment advisory board shall determine the amounts that will be paid as loan repayments on behalf of participants in the dentist loan repayment program. The board may choose a funding methodology prioritizing the highest scoring applicants that match to the health resources and services administration's state loan repayment program grant specifications.

If the dental practice site, the director and the applicant agree on the applicant's placement in a particular dental health resource shortage area and the amount of the applicant's educational expenses to be repaid, the applicant shall prepare, sign and deliver to the director a letter of intent agreeing to that placement.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 3701-56-02

Effective: 7/15/2022
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 4/26/2022 and 07/15/2027
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3702.86
Rule Amplifies: 3702.88, 3702.89, 3702.90
Prior Effective Dates: 07/08/2004, 11/26/2009, 07/02/2015